Youth Works Spotlight by Layne Peters Summer camps create space for life-changing encounters with Jesus. Two days have passed since getting home from helping with Junior High Summer Camp, and I just got off my third FaceTime call of the day with Seth*—one of...
Youth Works Spotlight: by Alex Streeter, CLDI Intern Youth Works spends a large portion of their time mentoring students in the school system on the South Side. We offer before-and after-school programs and work closely in the school system as coaches, substitute...
Youth Works Spotlight: by Jackie Patten, Youth Works Director One of my favorite Youth Works icebreakers is “When did you feel most connected to God this week?” There are several defining moments of my walk with the Lord that set me on a trajectory of following Him,...
Youth Works Feature Walking alongside students in their day-to-day lives makes an eternal difference. Our gospel-centered, holistic approach to transforming the South Side community begins with building relationships. For youth, this includes meeting them where...
The roots of a person's struggles are often deep, intertwined and complex. No one singular "program" can address all of a person's challenges. Many of the people that CLDI serve have come from families and generations before them that have found themselves in patterns...
Words by Jackie Patten In light of Valentine's Day, our office has a “heart attack” game going around where we have to essentially bomb each other's work desks with goodies, candy and words of affirmation. The individual who chose me wrote words of encouragement that...
Volunteer Highlight by Eddy Welch Before becoming an apprentice mentor through Rail//Line Coffee, I was looking for a ministry to partner with. I wanted to help people not only to grow in their walk with Christ but to further themselves in the professional world as...
New Executive Director Kaleb Perdew shares his history with the ministry and vision for the future. In 2017, CLDI’s Executive Director Eric Basye crossed paths with Kaleb Perdew, a Billings native and recent graduate from the University of Montana. Kaleb had a heart...
The 7th principle of CCD is Wholistic Approach. Oftentimes, many in ministry get passionate and involved in one area of need and think if they solve this particular problem that all else will be resolved. Christians, of course, often focus this area on a personal...
“That’s YOUR house?!” a young student yelled to me as I opened the gate that separates our backyard from Orchard Elementary’s play area. “Why yes, it is!” I yelled back. Later that week, we crossed paths on a neighborhood walk and was greeted with, “Hey you’re that...